India is primarily an agrarian economy as farming is one of the
most important occupations in the country. It is generally perceived
as a healthy outdoor occupation. However numbers of studies have
classified farming as a risky and hazardous job [2,6].
Because of the
nature of farm work, farm workers are at particular risk of developing
musculoskeletal disorder, besides a large number of other health
problems. Farming was rated as one of the most dangerous occupation
in U.S. [7] way back in 1990, when the national safety council of the
United States acknowledged agriculture as one of the three most
hazardous sectors in the working world [8].
Studies conducted in
Ireland and the eastern Mediterranean region of Europe have also
corroborated the fact that MSD are the most commonly reported
work-related health problems among agricultural farmers and dairy
farm workers, with nearly 23 per cent of the workers reporting that
they suffer severe and persistent aches and pains in the musculoskeletal
system [2,9].